Law enforcement units have on heightened alert since last week in anticipation of security concerns as influx of tourists and home-coming Boholanos increased in time for the long weekend towards the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Securing the borders gets priority with the Philippine Coast Guard at the frontline while the land-based law enforcement units complement with tighter security routines in premises of cemeteries and passenger terminals.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the PCG also implement tighter security routines in all seaports in Bohol including the tourist port in Tagbilaran, and the towns of Jagna, Tubigon, Talibon, and Ubay.
The PCG also conducts seaborne patrols along the borders of Bohol to watch for colorum or unregistered pumpboats chartered by passengers coming from Cebu and other neighboring islands.
PCG-Tagbilaran Station Commander Benjie Quinisio ordered coast guard personnel to implement tight security measures in port premises, especially Tagbilaran which is the main entry point of the province for both boat and airport passengers.
Quinisio said they always double their preparation during peak seasons when the volume of people coming in and leaving the province increase.
During the the days approaching November 1 and 2, the volume usually triples.
PCG Tagbilaran Station also expects additional personnel to come in to assist in watching over the Bohol borders.
Sea marshals will be deployed to conduct rounds of inspections to ensure no overloading of boats during the peak season.
Quinisio also reminded the public to shun taking colorum pumpboats for their own safety, since it is only with registered vessels that sea worthiness is assured.
He said unregistered sea vessels have no safety gadgets, manifesto, and insurance. They sail on their own without passing through the rigid inspection by the PCG.
On the other hand, police personnel extend duty hours from Monday until Wednesday afternoon to ensure safe and orderly observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Instead of the usual 12-hour duty, police personnel would extend six more hours to establish police visibility.
Maneuver units like the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the Provincial Public Safety Companies will also be available 24 hours.
Force multipliers like the civilian volunteers, radio groups, barangay tanods or the barangay patrols will also assist the police personnel.
Also complementing the PNP, aside from PCG and MARINA, are Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure order on the roads and the bus terminals, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the airports, and  Department of Health.
Close to 50,000 police personnel will be deployed nationwide on November 1 and 2 to convergence areas like cemeteries, places of worship, seaports, airports, bus terminals, major tourist destinations, vital installations and roads leading to convergence areas.
In every region, the PNP deploys 2,000-4,000 police personnel, half of them takes charge of the peace and order in premises of cemeteries.
The Operation Ligtas Undas starts in the weekend when people start heading their hometowns to visit the graves of dead relatives and sidetrip to tourist destinations.
The law enforcement units and the complementing agencies also have to ensure order when the people return to work by November 3.